Slatted awning



June 25, 1940.

Q. B. GRANT SLATTED AWNING Filed Sept. 23. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l CAFFUZL 5.6/54

C. B. GRANT SLAT'I'ED AWNING June 25, 19400 Filed Sept. 23, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 v aw GA/FPQLL 8. GRANT Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to awnings and is concerned principally with rigid awnings oi the slatted type.

An object of the invention is to provide a rigid owning capable of installation as a more or less permanent building fixture, and one which is comprised of slats arranged to provide for free passage of air therebetween while excluding the passage of rain.

Another object is to provide an awning that is self-ventilating over its entire area and which is of rigid, durable, and economical construction.

Other objects will be apparent from the description.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an awning constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the awning.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line t-i of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line t% of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse section through a portion of the structure.

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line ll-l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section similar to Figure 6 but illustrating an alternative structural embodiment.

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line t@ of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a section, also similar to Figure 6, illustrating another alternative structural form.

Figure 11 is a section, like Figure 6, illustrating a still further alternative structure.

In all embodiments, the awning comprises a plurality of somewhat closely spaced parallel slats disposed on the same side of transversely extending cleats to which they are rigidly secured. The spaces between the slats are occupied by drainage gutters, side edge portions of which are disposed beneath overlying adjacent side edges of the slats and in spaced relation thereto to provide air passages through which air may pass freely. The awning may have end sections of substantially similar construction. The disposition of the gutters with respect to the slats is such that direct rays of sunlight ,are prevented from passing through the awning as well as rain and 'sleet.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to '7, inclusive, is constructed with an appropriately inclined face portion composed of a plurality of slats l2 alternated with slats l3, all slats being identical, and all being disposed in parallel spaced relation with no overlapping thereof. The series of slats it occupy a common plane and are directly attached by appropriate securing elements it to subjacent transverse cleats it arranged in parallel spaced relation across the inner face of the awning from one end to the other. The alternate series of slate ltl likewise occupy a common plane, but they are elevated with respect to the slats it by means of spacer blocks it seated on the outer faces of the cleats it and attached thereto by means of others of the securing elements iii which are employed to secure the slats to the filler blocks and cleats. As will be apparent from Figures 5 and 6, the plane of the slats it parallels that of the slats i2 and is appreciably elevated with respect thereto, and the opposed side edges of adjacent slats occupy spaced parallel planes that are perpendicular to the cleats.

Along the top edge of the awning one of the cleats it is in flush relationship with the squared ends of the slats, and carries appropriate attaching fixture means it by which the awning may be mounted in service position. The bottom ends of the slats extend beyond the lowermost cleat and are dressed with substantially tapered terminal portions or tips to provide a decorative efiect.

Where desired, the r v-jis further provided with and sections, here shown as comprised of parallel, spaced, vertical slats it having inclined upper ends conforming to the pitch of the face portion and secured to a similarly inclined cleat it which is appropriately secured to the cleats it. The lower end portions of the slats are connected by attachment to a horizontal cleat it which carries at its inner end an attachment fixture it.

The face portion of the awning is further provided with drainage gutters 2i occupying the spaces between the slats i2 and it and extending longitudinally of the slats over all of the underlying transverse cleats id, to which they are attached by means of others of the securing elements M. These gutters comprise angle strips of metal preferably possessing some degree of inherent resiliency, and are disposed with their apices seating on the cleats and with their flange portions bearing tightly at one side against the adjacent side edges of the slats l2 and at the other side against the adjacent ends of the filler blocks II.

An important structural feature of the invention resides in the fact that, as shown best in Figure 6, the side edges of the elevated slats l3 slightly overhang the ends 01' the filler blocks is. The divergent flanges oi the gutters are proportioned to the discrepancy in adjacent slat elevation, one being short on that side which abuts the edge of one of the lower slats it and the other be ing long on that side which abuts the ends of the filler blocks. The edge of the short flange Z2 is substantially flush with the top face of its abutting slat I2, and the edge of the long flange it is disposed beneath the overhang of the adjacent elevated slat l3 and is spaced from and below the under face of the slat, leaving an air passage 3% that is protected by the'covering overhang of the slat edge and through which air may pass freely. In placing the gutters 2i their flanges are somewhat compressed toward. each other and. are thus placed under tension which insures their firm frictional binding engagement against their respective abutments. Figure 5 indicates that, by virtue of this engagement, the use of the securin elements i4 shown in Figure 6 may be dispensed with if desired.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the slats ita. and 53a occupy a common plane and are directly connected to the cleats Ma. The slats are in parallel spaced relation with their opposed side edges slightly overhanging the straight side walls of squared recesses 25 provided in the cleats and opening to their upper faces. Channel shaped gutters tic are seated in the cleat recesses, extending longitudinally between the slats, with their side flanges 220i and 23a flatly abutting the side walls of the recesses and terminating in spaced relation beneath the overhanging under faces of the slats; providing protected air passages 24a.

The embodiment disclosed in Figure 10 combines the principle of staggered slat elevation with that of the squared cleat recess and channelled gutter. In this form, the slats 62b and 93b occupy diflerent planes, with the slats I31) elevated above the slats l2b and being supported on filler blocks E5" on the cleats b. The cleats are provided with the squared recesses 25b seating channelled gutters 2 lb whose parallel side flanges 22b and 23b terminate in spaced relation beneath the overhanging side edge portions of the adjacent slats and leave air passages 24b.

The structural arrangement shown in Figure 11 is similar to. that of Figure 5 except that the slats l3c are depressed with respect to the slats l2c, being seated directly on the flat bottoms of wide seating recesses 250 provided in the cleats l5c.- In this embodiment the slats I are secured directly to the top faces of the-cleats without the interposition of spacer means, their elevation being obtained by the depressed relationship of the slats Ba and angle gutters 2lc, identical to the gutters 2| previously described, are secured in the cleat recesses 25c along each side edge of the slats I30, against which the short flanges 220 of the gutters abut. The long flanges 230 of the gutters abut the adjacent side walls of the cleat recesses and terminate in spaced relation beneath the overhanging side edges of the adjacent slats l2c to leave air passages 24c.

It is preferred that the awning, with exception of the drainage gutters, be constructed of wood, although it may equally as well be made of metal or composition slat construction. The spacer means for elevating certain of the'slats may be integral with the cleats, andany desired variations in the details of structure and arrangement of the various parts may be made that fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: i

1. An awning comprising a plurality of parallel slats disposed in spaced relation, cleat means extending transversely across said slats and supporting the slats, all of said slats being disposed on the same side of said cleat means, and drainage gutters carried by said cleat means on the same side as the slats and extending longitudinally oi the slats in the spaces therebetween.

2. An awning comprising a plurality of slats arranged in spaced relation and having parallel side edges, the opposed side edges of adjacent slats being spaced apart, cleat means extending transversely across said slats and supporting the slats, all of said slats being disposed onthe same side of said cleat means, certain of said slats being elevated with respect to the others, and drainage gutters occupying the spaces between the opposed side edges of adjacent slats and on the same side of the cleat means.

3. An awning comprising a plurality of slats disposed in parallel spaced relation, cleat means supporting said slats and extending transversely across the slats, all of said slats being disposed on the same side of the cleat means and alternate slats being in diflerent planes, and drainage gutters carried by said cleat means in the spaces between the opposed side edges of adjacent slats and on the same side therewith.

4. An awning comprising a plurality of slats disposed in parallel spaced relation, cleat means supporting said slats andextending transversely acrossthe slats, all of said slats being at the same side of the cleat means, alternate slats being disposed in different planes, drainage gutters carried by said cleat means in the spaces between said slats and on the same side therewith, and said gutters having side walls spaced with respect to certain of said slats to provide air passages therebetween.

5. An awning comprising a plurality of slats arranged side by side with their side edges in parallel spaced relation, cleats supporting said slats and extending transversely across all of the slats on the same side thereof, drainage gutters seated on said cleats in the spaces between the opposed edges of the slats and on the same side therewith, and the side edges of certain slats overhanging the adjacent side walls of the'gutters and in spaced relation thereabove to provide air passages.

6. An awning comprising a plurality of slats arranged side by side with their side edges in parallel spaced relation, alternate slats being disposed in different planes and out of overlapping relation, cleats supporting the slats and extending transversely thereof, and drainage gutters carried by the cleats in the spaces between the slats.

7. An awning comprising a plurality of slats arranged side by side with their opposed side edges spaced apart, cleats supporting the slats and extending transversely thereof, the spacing of said opposed side edges of the slats being in the direction in which the cleats extend, and drainage gutters seated on said cleats between the opposed side edges of the slats and on the same side therewith.

8. An awning comprising a plurality of slats arranged side by side with their opposed side edges spaced apart, cleats supporting the slats and extending transversely entirely thereacross, the spacing of said opposed side edges of the slats being in the-direction in which said cleats extend, drainage gutters on the cleats in the spaces between the slats and on the same side therewith, and each gutter being spaced from an adjacent slat to provide an air passage therebetween.

9. An awning comprising a series of slats disposed in parallel spaced relation in a common plane, a second seriesof slats disposed in parallel spaced relation in a common plane and elevated with respect to the first plane, said slats being staggered without overlapping, cleat means supporting all said slats and at the same side thereof, and drainage gutters on the cleat means between the opposed edges of adjacent slats and on the same side therewith.

10. An awning comprising a series of slats disposed in parallel spaced relation in a common plane, a second series of slats disposed in parallel spaced relation in a common plane and elevated with respect to the first plane, said slats being staggered without overlappin cleat means sup porting all said slats and at the same side thereof, drainage gutters on the cleat means and extending longitudinally between adjacent slats and on the same side therewith, said elevated slats at their. side edges overhanging a wall portion of an adjacent gutter.

11. An awning comprising a series of slats disposed in parallel spaced relation in a common plane, a second series of slats disposed in a common and difierent plane and staggered with respect to the first series without overlapping, cleat means supporting all said slats and at the same side thereof, drainage gutters on the cleat means and extending longitudinally between adjacent slats on the same side therewith, the side edges of the second series of slats overhanging a wall portion of an adjacent gutter, and said wall portion being spaced from and beneath the adjacent overhanging slat edge to provide an air passage.

12. An awning comprising a series of slats disposed in parallel spaced relation in a common plane, a plurality of slats staggered with respect to said series and each in a plane different from that of the series, cleat means common to all of 45 said slats and on the same side thereof, and

drainage gutters on said cleat means extending longitudinally of the slats and occupying the spaces between their side edges on the same side therewith.

13. In an awning, a plurality of cleats, a series of slats secured thereto in parallel spaced relation, a second series of slats secured to the cleats on the same side as the first series and staggered with respect to said first series without overlapping, the side edges of the slats of said first series being transversely spaced from the opposed side edges of adjacent slats of said second series, and drainage gutters on said cleats on the same side as the slats extending longitudinally between the slats and substantially filling the spaces between the opposed side edges thereof.

14. In an awning, a plurality of cleats, a series of slats secured thereto in parallel spaced relation, a second series of slats staggered with respect to said first series in parallel spaced relation thereto and without overlapping, means on said cleats supporting said second series on the same side of the cleats as the first series, drainage gutters on said cleats between the slats, and

said gutters having side walls abutting the side edges of one series of slats on one side and spaced from and beneath the side edges of the second series of slats on the other side.

15. In-an awning, a plurality of slats disposed in parallel spaced relation substantially in a common plane, spaced cleats supporting said slats from one side thereof, said cleats being recessed between the slats and beneath the side edges thereof, and drainage gutters seated in said recesses.

16. In an awning, spaced cleats, a plurality of slats disposed in parallel spaced relation and differently elevated with respect to the cleats, all of said slats being secured to the cleats at the same side thereof, and substantially V-shaped drainage gutters seated at their apices on said cleats and extending longitudinally in the spaces between the opposed side edges of adjacent slats and on the same side therewith.

' CARROLL B. GRANT. 

